Wildcat coaching alum has shot at national title

Harding University will play for the NCAA DII national championship Saturday. Former Wildcat coach Kenny Wheaton is their offensive consultant.

Lake Highlands High School didn’t make it to the state championship in football this year, but one of our Wildcat coaching alums will be aiming for a national title Saturday. Kenny Wheaton is currently offensive consultant for the Harding University Bisons in Searcy, Arkansas, and his team will be playing in McKinney for the NCAA Division II title.

Wheaton came to Lake Highlands early in his career as part of Mike Zoffuto’s original staff. Wheaton is widely considered the Godfather of the Wishbone, now sometimes called the Flexbone, which Zoffuto and his team used to punish defenses in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“Coach Z was my mentor, as well as a mentor to many coaches throughout his tenure,” Wheaton told me Monday as he prepared for the big game. “He was a fantastic leader of young men, and I was personally blessed to be with him from 1979 to 1986 at Mt. Pleasant, 1986 to 1987 in Red Oak and 1987 to 1993 in Lake Highlands. I learned a lot about the offense from Coach Z, but more than anything, I learned how to love kids.”

Wheaton went on to become head coach at Nacogdoches, Corpus Christi Miller and Weatherford high schools, and he served as offensive coordinator at Henderson State University before taking the job at Harding. He never abandoned the coaching techniques that worked for him.

“I have stayed with the Flexbone for 44 years now,” Wheaton said. “It has been very good to us, everywhere we have coached. Even if we didn’t win, we moved the ball and scored points. Lake Highlands is where we came up with the Midline Veer scheme in 1992 used by quarterback Ryan Smith and fullback Rodd Newhouse.”

As I communicated with Wheaton via email, it was clear his recollections of plays and players were clear as a bell. He recalled coaches and games as if they were yesterday.

“We have lots of fond memories of our days at LH,” he said. “I was real excited to see [the Wildcats] do so well this year. I also saw they still use ‘Welcome to the Boneyard.’ LOL.”

The phrase originated during Wheaton’s tenure and refers to the Wishbone offense. Hundreds of players and thousands of fans have seen the signs — and perhaps even chanted the words — without knowing the history behind them.

Wheaton’s former players include wide receiver Corey Parham (played for Louisiana Tech), quarterback Kent Petty (Texas A&M), halfback Jeremy Griffin (A&M Commerce), quarterback Larry Thomas (Southwest Missouri State), offensive lineman Jason Barnett (Virginia Military Institute), offensive lineman JJ Leonard (Navy), offensive lineman Doug Emes (Cornell), offensive lineman Owen Hill (Columbia), quarterback Ben Jenkins (OU/Miss St Baseball), wide receiver Mikell Giles (SE Missouri), fullback Detron Smith (Texas A&M/Denver Broncos/Jacksonville Jaguars/Indianapolis Colts), kicker Phil Dawson (Texas/Cleveland Browns/SF 49ers/ Arizona Cardinals), quarterback Ryan Smith (Air Force/Abilene Christian), fullback Rodd Newhouse (Rice), fullback Dexter Ford (Baylor), tight end Brian Lonergan (Northern Colorado), offensive lineman Nathan Lee (SMU), halfback Glen Johnson (Wyoming), running back Derrick Cullors (Murray State, New England Patriots) and quarterback Marcus Stiggers (Colorado), among many others.

“We were fortunate at LH to have great young men during the seven years we were together there. I am still in touch with many of them now. Several have reached out and will be at our game this week. We had a really special group of guys back in those days. I love them all.”

Wheaton says his Bisons have their work cut out for them when they play for the NCAA Division II national title Saturday.

“Colorado School of Mines was in the national championship game last year, so they are very good. Their QB, John Matocha, was the Harlon Hill Award winner in 2022. That’s D2’s version of the Heisman.”

Of course, the Bisons aren’t too shabby, either. They beat Lenoir-Rhyne 55-14 to earn a shot at the title and broke the DII single season rushing record with 5,565 yards. They’ve mastered the ground game, averaging more than 400 yards per game.

“It should be a good matchup. We have contrasting styles of play,” continued Wheaton. “As for us, we just need to continue to do what we do and be who we are — ‘It’s about us.’ We have elite young men at Harding, and a true ‘Brotherhood.’ Our motto is ‘Others before self.’ Coach Z would be so proud.”

Wheaton says he’s hoping to see many of his former players and coaching buddies up in the stands in McKinney, based on the number of people who have reached out to wish him well. The group that coached together under Zoffuto is a special bunch, he says.

“Zoffuto taught us what was important. I believe every coach on his staff went on to become head coaches and athletic directors in Texas — no small feat — and we all used Coach Z’s formula: Love.”

If you’d like to come out for big game, Wheaton and his Harding University Bisons will play Colorado School of Mines Saturday at noon at McKinney ISD Stadium, 4201 S. Hardin in McKinney. Tickets are available here using the access code HOMENCAA.